Testing device.



J. A. HOFF.

TESTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 22. I9I5- 1,21 1,942. PatentedJan. 9,1917.

Z: fzzesses:

JOHN A. HOFE OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

TESTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 22, 1915. Serial No. 62,789.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. Horr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Testing Devices, of

.which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to testing devices, and is intended for employmentfor testing the pressures in bottles containing charged beverages, forinstance, soda and mineral waters, Coca Cola, and other potable fluids.

The flavor and durability of the beverage depends largely upon theexistence and the maintenance of pressure in and upon the potable fluid,the absence of the pressure being evidenced by whatis known as a fiattaste. The pressure is usually supplied by a charge of carbonic acidgas, a pressure of approximately three atmospheres being a usualpressure applied to the contents of the bottle, this pressure beinginstanced as an example and not as a limitation. Disputes often arisebetween the manufacturer of the charged beverage and the retailer as towhether the bottles contain sufficient pressure. The appearance andtaste of the beverage are not always criterions as to the amount ofpressure in the bottle and are at best matters of opinion of theindividual.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device whereby thepressure in the inside of the bottle may be accurately determined, andfurther to provide a novel testing device which may be readily appliedto any bottle, for instance, of a given lot of bottles, and the pressuretherein indicated upon a pressure-gage for definitely determining thepressure.

The invention will be further readily understood from the followingdescription and claims, and from the drawing, in which latter:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device, showing the sameapplied to a bottle, the latter partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a planView of my improved device. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of'the same,partly shown in axial section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with thepiercing-stem withdrawn. Fig. 4 is an axial section of the attaching andpiercing portion of my improved device, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.2, showing the piercing-stem in pierced relation. Fig. 5 is a detail inside elevation, showing the catch for the keeper of the metal cap;

and, Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail, taken on the hue 66 of Fig. 4.

My improved device comprises a casing 11, on which there is a housing12, shown Patented Jan. 9, 1917.-

movable with relation to the casing by havmg threaded engagement 13 withthe shank 14 of the casing. The housing is provided wlth l1ps 15arranged to be received over the edge 16 of a usual metal cap 17,instanced as a usual crown the mouth 18 of a bottle19.

A seal is provided for surrounding a portion of the cap, instanced as acompressible washer 21, for instance of rubber, arranged to be clampedupon the top' of the cap, the washer being provided with an aperture 22through which a piercing-stem 23 is arranged to be received. The washeris instanced as being provided with an inner metal ring 24 and an outermetal ring 25, so as to confine the washer laterally. The washer islocated in a recess 28 in the housing. The shank 14 is provided with anannular projection 29 which coacts with the washer for pressing thewasher against the crown 30 of the metal cap for surrounding a portionof the crown intended to be pierced.

The capped end of the bottle is adapted to be placed within the housingby lateral movement between the mouth of the bottle and the housing, forplacing the lips 15 over the edge of the cap. Relative rotation betweenthe housing and easing causes a clamping of the washer upon thecap.

If desired, the cap may be held in the housing, as by means of a keepercomprising a rock-shaft 32 rockable in a bearing 33 of the housing, andprovided with a head 3 1 eccentrically placed on the rock-shaft arrangedto be shifted so as to be received over the edge of the cap. The normalposition of the head 34 is adjacent to the base of the housing, with thehead turned outwardly, the head being provided with an inclined face 35normally presented inwardly. The head is arranged to be held in normalposition by means of a pin 36 received in an annular groove 37 in therock-shaft, the pin being received throughthe Wall of the bearing 33 andpressed toward the rockshaft by means of being mounted on a spring 38secured to the housing by a screw 39, the spring being provided with anoutturned end 40 arranged to be readily engaged for moving the pin 36out of range with the annular groove 37.

seal received over When the cap has been received between the lips 15,the keeper is arranged to be moved axially-and to be rotated, as bymeans of a handle 41, for placing the head 34 thereof across the edge ofthe cap. When in such position the pin 36 may be received.

in an annular groove 42 in the rock-shaft. The piercing stem 23 extendsthrough a hole, 45 in the casing, shown as extending lengthwise of theshank 14. A passage or passages 46 extend lengthwise of thepiercing-stem, being shown formed by forming athe piercing-stem as aflat stem, thelengthwise passages being between the piercingstem and thewall of the hole through which the stem passes.

The piercing-stem is provided with a piercing-point 47 arranged topierce the metal cap and the lining 48 thereof, so as to passages 46 andthe cavity'60 of the casing.

A suitable pressure-gage 61 is secured to the casing, as by means of thethreaded connection 62, there being a pressure-passage 63 communicatingby means of the cavity .60 with the pressure-passages 46, so as toindicate upon the dial 64 of the pressure-gage, by means of the pointer65 thereof, the pressure there is in thebottle, this pressure beingcommunicated. to the pressure-gage through'the pierced hole in the capof the bottle, the passages 46, cavity'60 and passage 63, the escape ofpressure being prevented by the compression of the compressible washer2:1 against the crown of the cap by means of theannular projection 29surrounding the pierced portion of the crown. If desired, the pressuremay be released by means of the valve 66', When the pressure has beenread the testing device may be removed 'from the bottle.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a testing device of the character described, the combination of aclamp arranged to be clamped to the cap of a metalcapped' bottle, saidclamp comprising a packing surrounding a portion of said cap to bepierced and pressed against said cap, a piercing-stem, means for forcingsaid piercing-stem toward said cap for'piercing saidsurrmmded portion ofsaid cap, and

a pressure-gage, said device provided with 'a passage communicating withsaid pressure-gage andsaid pierced part of said cap for indicating thepressure in said bottle on said pressure-gage.

'2. In a testing device of the character described, the combination of aI clamp arranged to-be clamped to the cap ofa metal capped bottle, saidclamp comprising apacking surrounding a portion of said metal-cap to bepierced and pressed against said cap, a piercing-stem, means for forcingsaid piercing-stem toward said ca for piercing said surrounded portion 0said cap, a pressure-gage, said device provided with a passagecommunicating with said pressure-gage and said pierced part of said-'cap for indicating the pressure in said bottle on said pressure-gage,and a valve communicating with said passage for releasing the pressurein said bottle.

, 3. In a testing device of the character described, the combination ofa casing, a housing arran 'ed, to be received about the cap of almeta-capped bottle, a washer in said housing provided with an aperture,means between said casing and housing for clamping said washer to saidcap, a plercing-stem having threaded connection with said casing formoving said stem through said aperture and piercing said cap, and apressuregage, there being a pressure-passage lengthwise of said stemcommunicating with said pressure-gage.

4. In a testing device of the character described, the combination of acasing, a housing arranged to be received by lateral movement about thecap of a metal-capped bottle, a keeper coacting with said housing forsecuring said housing to said cap, said casing comprising a shankthreaded in said housing, a compressible washer pressed between saidshank and said cap by relative rotation between said housing and shank,said shank and washer having apertures therein in line'with each other,a piercingstem in said aperture in said shank, said piercing-stem havingthreaded connection with said casing arranged to move said piercing-stemthrough said aperture in said washer for piercing said cap, and apressuregage, there being a pressure-passage extending lengthwise ofsaid stem communicating with said pressure-gage.

5. In a testing device of the character described, the combination of acasing, a housing arranged to be received by lateral movement about thecap of a metal-capped bottle, a keeper coacting with said housing forsecuring said housing to said cap, said casing comprising a shankthreaded in said housing, a compressible washer pressed between saidshank and said cap by relative rotation between said housing and shank,said shank and washer having apertures therein in line with each other,a piercingstem in said aperture in said shank, sald piercing-stem havingthreaded connection with said casing arranged to move said piercing-stemthrough said aperture in said washer for piercing said cap, apressuregage, there being a pressure-passage extende ing lengthwise ofsaid stem communicating with said pressure-gage, and a valvecommunicating with sald pressure-passage for releasing the pressure insaid bottle and said pressure-gage.

6. In a testing device of the character described, the combination of acasing, a housing arranged to be received by lateral movement about thecap of a metal-capped bottle, a keeper, axially movable and rockableshaft our naled in said housing, and a head arranged said keepercomprising an to be placed across the edge of said cap for holding saidcap in said housing, a catch for retaining said keeper in retractedposition, a washer in said housing, provided with a shank, means forpressin said washer between said shank. and sai cap, a piercing-stemhaving threaded connection with said casing for forcing said stem pastsaid washer through said cap, and a pressure-gage, there being a passagelengthwise of said piercing-stem communicating with said pressure-gage.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. HOFF. Witnesses:

THERESA M. SILBER, COLEMAN AVERY.

said casing

